Author: troyashbacher

As U.S. college admissions become increasingly competitive and American campuses reflect the nation’s political divides, more families are looking abroad for higher education opportunities.What was once considered a niche option is becoming increasingly mainstream, particularly as American universities expand their presence through satellite campuses in cities such as Abu Dhabi, London, and Shanghai. Plus, tuition and living costs at European universities are often significantly lower than in the U.S., even for international students. Just as importantly, parents are prioritizing global fluency in today’s interconnected world — with universities abroad providing valuable exposure to new cultures, languages, and perspectives.How European Universities…

Recent tax changes gave many retirees reasons to cheer.The jubilation is limited, though, so take advantage while you can before the opportunity to reduce your tax bill slips away.Changes to certain income tax rules and deductions were included in what President Donald Trump referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), which was signed into law July 4, 2025, and amended the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best…

The M&A flywheel does not completely stop for Charles Schwab’s annual Impact conference. Not even for Schwab itself, as it turns out. The country’s largest custodian announced during its conference that it had acquired private markets platform Forge Global Holdings. Jon Beatty, head of Schwab Advisor Services, told reporters at the conference that Schwab sees bringing private market investments to advisors and clients as a continuation of its history of making markets more accessible to everyday investors.  When asked by WealthManagement.com about when advisors would have access to the new offering, Beatty said, “The first step with Forge is to close…

Editor’s note: This is part three of a four-part series about how to create and use your own Estate Planning Playbook. Part one introduced the concept and why it matters. Part two focused on the family love letter, a heartfelt guide to end-of-life preferences. In this article, we cover the often-overlooked details that can cause real stress if not addressed: family heirlooms, pet care and day-to-day bills.When most people think of a will, they imagine a formal document that lays out how money, real estate and high-value possessions will be distributed after death.While those financial assets are important, the biggest…

Envestnet ElevateMay 19, 2026 TO May 21, 2026|PhoenixEnvestnet Elevate will take place in Phoenix, AZ on May 19-20. It is one of the only live events bringing together financial advisors and RIAs, broker-dealers, asset managers, and enterprises into the same space to discuss how wealth management technology can revolutionize practices, clients, and the industry overall.

Welcome to Kiplinger’s My First $1 Million series, in which we hear from people who have made $1 million. They’re sharing how they did it and what they’re doing with it. This time, we hear from a 67-year-old retired public school educator/administrator in Greenville, South Carolina, who’s been married for 47 years.See our earlier profiles, including a writer in New England, a literacy interventionist in Colorado, a semiretired entrepreneur in Nashville and an events industry CEO in Northern New Jersey. (See all of the profiles here.)Each profile features one person or couple, who will always be completely anonymous to readers,…

Spain’s central government could learn some valuable lessons about sound taxA tax is a mandatory payment or charge collected by local, state, and national governments from individuals or businesses to cover the costs of general government services, goods, and activities. policy from its regional governments and other European countries. The Tax Foundation recently released the 2025 International Tax Competitiveness Index (ITCI). Since 2017, Spain has dropped from 27th to 34th (out of 38 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD] countries) in the ITCI due to multiple tax hikes, new taxes, and weak performances in all five ITCI components. While Spain’s central government is the main driver behind this drop, Spain’s regional governments also play…

Let’s be real: we’ve all heard money advice that sounds wise, catchy, even empowering, until you actually try to apply it. Suddenly, that simple tip feels unrealistic, ineffective, or just plain irrelevant to your life. You’re not alone. Real-life money management isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why today, we’re breaking down the most common financial advice that doesn’t always work, and what to do instead. Hi, my name is Bola Sokunbi. I’m the founder and CEO of Clever Girl Finance, and the author of the Clever Girl Finance book series. Let’s dive into the money advice that might be holding you back,…

The IRS ended Direct File, the free, online pilot program that nearly 300,000 taxpayers in 25 states used to file returns for tax year 2024. The IRS website for Direct File says “Direct File is closed. More information will be available at a later date.” “We have better alternatives,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the acting IRS commissioner, told reporters at the White House on Wednesday, according to multiple news outlets. “It wasn’t used very much, and we think that the private sector can do a better job.” Direct File allowed eligible taxpayers to file tax returns directly with the IRS…

As a parent, there’s nothing quite like watching your child’s eyes light up on Christmas morning. That joy is what makes the late-night wrapping, the budgeting, and even the long lines at the store feel worth it. But somewhere along the way, many of us have felt the pressure for that joy to come with a price tag. The bigger the pile, the better the morning — or so we’ve been led to believe. I’ve been there too. When my oldest, James, was little, I used to measure how magical Christmas would feel by how many gifts I could afford…